Lecanto Primary support staff member Kellie Redner hands out two iPads to a parent of students outside of the school. A 23-member Re-Opening Florida Task Force Industry Working Group on Administrative, Education, Information & Technology, Manufacturing, Utilities and Wholesale said two keys to reviving the state's economy are reopening schools and affordable child care.

Lecanto Primary School Guardian Tim Ellis assists school staff members Tuesday afternoon as parents receive iPads for their children to continue their education at home while schools are closed due to the coronavirus.

School district sets stage to teach students at home; plan to roll out March 30

Lecanto Primary support staff member Kellie Redner hands out two iPads to a parent of students outside of the school. A 23-member Re-Opening Florida Task Force Industry Working Group on Administrative, Education, Information & Technology, Manufacturing, Utilities and Wholesale said two keys to reviving the state's economy are reopening schools and affordable child care.

“We’re asking parents to do something they haven’t signed up for, and that’s to teach their kids at home,” Superintendent of Schools Sandra “Sam” Himmel said. “We’re asking our teachers to do something they’ve never done before.

School district officials gave Chronicle staff a sneak peek Tuesday into their in-progress plan “Citrus Cares,” an acronym for Citrus Continues Academics Remotely to Every Student.

It’s the district’s blueprint and strategy, created almost from scratch in a matter of days, to educate, feed and care for its K-12 pupils at a distance.

“This was a collaborative effort we’ve been working on,” district Chief Academic Officer Dr. Scott Hebert said, noting the partnership with the Citrus County Education Association, a union of teachers, for ideas.

Lecanto Primary School Guardian Tim Ellis assists school staff members Tuesday afternoon as parents receive iPads for their children to continue their education at home while schools are closed due to the coronavirus.

Kahler said elementary schoolers are checking out between 150 and 200 iPads from each school daily, a demand the district can meet.

Students can use personal devices from home, but they need to be able to download the programs teachers will require them to use, according to Amy Crowell, director of the district’s research and accountability department.

Many teachers, especially for grades 6-12, have used different online applications to get their lessons across to students at school, and district officials don’t want to change that.

“We’re telling teachers to use whichever apps them and their their classrooms are comfortable with,” Hebert said. “Now, it’s getting the parents on board.”

“Stay in close contact with teachers,” Himmel added, giving advice to parents. “Our teachers are going to drive that instruction for our kids.”

Elementary students in grades K-5 will be using iReady to continue their education at home, with 45 minutes of math and 45 minutes of English and reading a day, Kahler said.

iReady changes a student’s lessons based on their progress, provides parents with a host of resources and informs teachers of grades so they can monitor participation from afar.

Middle school students will be taught through Skyward, a digital platform teachers have used to post and upload lesson plans, presentations, assignments and grades — a similar process high school classes will utilize, Crowell said.

There are some courses, like physical education and hands-on education at the Withlacoochee Technical College, which might require students to show video proof they did their work, Himmel said.

District staff will also start feeding its students Monday via school drive-throughs and bus-delivered food sites, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Jonny Bishop said.

A similar project began and ended the week of March 16, with an average of 750 meals being handed out daily, Bishop said.

School Food Sites

Starting March 30, these food-distribution sites will be open to district-enrolled children at these schools:

• Crystal River Primary, in front of school;

• Forest Ridge Elementary, behind the school;

• Pleasant Grove Elementary, at the bus ramp;

• Citrus High, the Stadium Road entrance;

• Central Ridge Elementary, at the bus ramp;

• Lecanto High, toward the CREST School;

• Rock Crusher Elementary, in front of school;

• Floral City Elementary, at the pickup line;

• Homosassa Elementary, at the bus ramp;

• Citrus Springs Elementary, at the bus ramp.

Student families can drive to any location to get a meal cooked by district staff, and no paperwork needs to be provided.

There will be two meals provided; a lunch for that day and a breakfast for next morning.

In order to limit in-person contact, families should not have to exit their vehicles. Children must also be present to receive a meal.

Local businesses and nonprofits — including the Citrus County Education Foundation, Kiwanis Club of Inverness, Duke Energy and Lowe’s — have supplied the district with coolers to transport food in on buses.

"This is a huge team effort," Bishop said.

Bishop said parents will get a call informing them where to get meals between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on weekdays. Citrus County Blessings is giving kids food on Fridays for the weekend.